QPR 0 Manchester United 2: Wayne Rooney catches QPR snoozing

It was just 12.01pm when Rooney claimed his 12th Premier League goal of the season to hand United the perfect start against Neil Warnock’s QPR.

He literally was an early riser as he nodded home with just 52 seconds on the clock – the third time he has scored within a minute in the top flight.

Despite his impressive pre-Christmas tally, Rooney has not always looked at his sharpest of late.

Fortunately for Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday it was vintage Rooney at Loftus Road, with the 26-year-old displaying the sublime vision and touch that has gone missing at times for club and country.

His goal was followed by one from Michael Carrick, who also looked back to the sort of form which once saw him become one of the first names on an England squad list.

MC was the MC as he mastered midfield, capping his performance with a rare goal – not because he doesn’t get many but because it followed a storming run with the ball, something not usually associated with the 30-year-old.

Many pundits might have expected this High Noon showdown to start off a bit groggy. Not a bit of it.

It was packed with chances and incident from the word go and how Howard Webb blew for the break with just one goal registered was a mystery that would test Christmas TV regulars Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Rooney’s opener came after he setAntonio Valencia clear down the right and cantered into the box.

The Ecuadorian’s cross was just right for Rooney to evade the despairing dive of Luke Young and glance a precise header into the far corner.

In the 17th minute there was anxiety, and probably anger, for Fergie when centre-back Matthew Connolly caught Rooney on his ankle as he won the ball.

QPR broke, Jamie Mackie skipped past Patrice Evra – something he did regularly in the first half – and Jay Bothroyd was presented with a shooting chance, which he fired over.

Rooney got up and shook hands with Connolly, while 50 yards away Rio Ferdinand was being booked for complaining about the challenge not even earning a free-kick.

Next Rooney played in Danny Welbeck, but although his fellow England pal found the net, he was offside.

Jonny Evans should have claimed his first United goal in the 28th minute after Valencia nodded on a Nani corner.

But he could not get over the ball enough with his own header, which struck the bar.

An inspired Rooney next perfectly picked out the run of Phil Jones – playing in midfield again – but his shot was kept out by the extended right leg of Radek Cerny.

Soon after Cerny did well again to deny Valencia with a strong hand after Rooney had a shot blocked and Evanshad another header, again from a Nani corner, kept out on the line.Just before the break Rangers could easily have equalised but Mackie did not stretch enough to poke home Bothroyd’s ball across the face of goal.

Quick-starter Rooney had a shot on target even quicker than his goal after the restart, but it was straight at Cerny. Carrick’s surprise strike came in the 56th minute.

After picking up Joey Barton’s loose ball he surged 40 yards through the heart of the Rangers rearguard before driving a right-foot shot from just outside the area which caught out Cerny.

It was Carrick’s first league goal for United in almost two years.

Cerny made up for that by pushing over Welbeck’s shot which was spinning towards the top corner. It was the striker’s last contribution, with the fit-again Javier Hernandez replacing him.

The excellent Jones was unlucky in the 69th minute to see his well-struck drive hit the bottom of Cerny’s left post.

Rangers sub DJ Campbell somehow managed to volley just over in the 75th minute from only five yards out.

It was about as good as it got for Rangers, with United fans having the time of their lives as they saw their heroes throw the gauntlet down to title rivals Manchester City.

They had a good laugh about having to play in the Europa League too, suggesting they would be enjoying their trip to the stag capital of the world – Amsterdam – for the Ajax clash.

All in all, it was a great display for Fergie, who now must be anticipating a ‘Happy Roo Year’.